Cessna R172K accident near Warrenton, Virginia, June 6, 2003
On June 6, 2003 at about 3:15 pm local time, a Cessna R172K, registered N736AT, was substantially damaged in an accident near Warrenton, Virginia (Warrenton-Fauquier Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's inadequate compensation the shifting wind conditions, and his failure to maintain directional control. A factor related to the accident was the shifting wind conditions.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 6, 2003 · about 3:15 pm local time
- Place
- Warrenton, Virginia · Warrenton-Fauquier Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna R172K · all R172Ks on the register
- Registration
- N736AT · registry record · serial R1722379
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
While landing on runway 32, as the right wheel touched down, and the left wheel began to settle, the airplane veered to the left. The pilot added full throttle and attempted to abort the landing, but the airplane continued into tall grass at the edge of the runway, and nosed over. The airplane came to rest inverted, in a ditch. The winds reported at an airport located approximately 12 miles northeast of the accident site reported winds from 310 degrees at 10 knots with 14 knots of gust. A wind shift was reported about 9 minutes prior to the accident.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,070 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 11, 2002; 34 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,500 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental IO 360 KB (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: W66 Warrenton VA at 3:00 pm
- Destination: W66
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 32, 4,103 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 310° at 10 knots, gusting 14
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 52°F (11°C)
- Altimeter: 30.04 inHg
- Observation at 2:55 pm from HEF, 12 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number NYC03LA123.